A couple days ago we talked about upgrades to Shimano’s Tiagra and Acera component lines. Today we have news about upgrades to Shimano components that we might actually get excited about — Deore and SLX. Deore, the lowest man on Shimano’s non-OEM totem pole, has gained a cog and the Dyna-Sys technology to go along with it. Dyna-Sys 10 speed had trickled down as far as SLX last year, it’s just moved that much farther downstream this year. SLX gets a boost for 2011 too, with upgrades to its disc brakes — like servo-wave, ice technologies brake pads, over-sized 22mm ceramic pistons, one-way bleed, and I-Spec compatibility (single clamp for brake and shifter). Also new from Shimano for 2011 are the mid-range MT15 and MT55 mountain bike wheels in both 29″ and 26″ versions with standard quick release or “E-Thru” 15mm thru-axle options. Oh, and they come in both colors — black and white.
More info on all this stuff and lots of photos after the break.
No aesthetic changes for Deore in 2011. With the new 10 speed cassette it was necessary to produce a new crankset (42/32/24-tooth). The cassette will come in 11-34 and 11-32 versions. Shimano will continue to make the 9 speed version of Deore for you “old school” folks.
Nothing new to see here…
2011 Deore top pull front derailleur.
2011 Deore bottom pull front derailleur.
The new Deore or M596 (you got all your Shimano alphanumeric names down?) disc brake inherit the servo-wave technology of its big brothers. The M596 has a claimed 15% increase in power over the M595’s. Oops, typo-alert…that would be a 14% increase; not a 15% increase. Like Winston Churchill said after Gallipoli: “My bad.”
The M596 does get a little makeover for 2011…looking a bit more like XTR. Ever see Single White Female? If I were XTR, I would be totally creeped out. The Deore brakes now have one way bleeding and are compatible with the SM-RT64 rotors.
The SM-RT67 (SLX) center-lock rotors will be available in 160, 180 and 203mm sizes. The M666 (SLX) brake features a tool-less reach adjuster and one-way bleeding. Available in June.
MT15 rear wheel in white.
The new mid-range wheel: The MT55 comes in black and white; 15mm thru-axle or standard quick release; and 26″ or 29″ versions. Both colors and sizes employ a quick engagement hub. Options man…options. Oh, except for rim brakes…not an option. These wheels are center-lock disc only. They have 24 spokes and weigh in at a claimed 1,920g per set.
MT55 Thru-Axle Front in white. The 15mm E-thru option is called the MT55-F15. Available in April.
The Alfine hub gets — “Hey! I thought we were talking about mountain bike components!” you say. “Well ya, but I didn’t want to do a whole post about internally-geared generator hubs” I say. Like I was saying before you so rudely interrupted…the Alfine is a 1.5W dynamo hub available in two versions — the DH-1D70 and the DH-1N70. I think the N stands for “No center-lock mounts” and the D stands for “Dude, this hub has center-lock mounts.” It weighs roughly 420 grams and it will be available in silver or black. The Alfine disc brake gets upgraded with IceTech features like XTR and Deore disc brakes. The new S700 is said to be 15% more powerful than the current S501.
More Shima-news to come…
